By R Lester Makang
UKHRUL, September 11: With the lifting of the UNC’s indefinite ban on national and state highways and national projects in Naga areas — a few days after the revoking of prohibitory order from Ukhrul — normal life has once again returned to the township as normal activities began to burst into life this afternoon after almost two months of social unrest virtually ravaged normality here.
Around afternoon today, the news of UNC rolling back its indefinite ban spread like wildfire in the town and Winger taxis plying along the Imphal -Ukhrul route in no time resumed their normal service from different points in the town while some inter-village and town-village passengers services also began to ply to their respective destinations.
All commercial establishments here practically resumed operating as usual from today and town taxis plied the township’s main road normally till evening. However, passenger buses from Ukhrul could not somehow ply today but would be duly resumed from tomorrow onward, sources added.
Later, in the evening, some Imphal-Ukhrul passenger buses also managed to reach here along with a handful of Winger taxis full of passengers. Moreover, some privately hired vehicles carrying commercial items could also be seen arriving here this evening.
Notably, the UNC’s decision to lift its strictures on highways and national projects in Naga areas was taken today in its presidential council meeting held at Senapati following the Centre’s assurance to the council and came three days after the state government revoked the prohibitory order under Section 144 CrPc being clamped in Ukhrul town since July 13 a day after Ukhrul ADC member Ngalamgzar Malue was gunned down by armed miscreants at Finch Corner.
Meanwhile, sources from the Tangkhul Frontal Organizations, have said that the town is once again begining to witness some semblance of normalcy since the past few days in the wake of the removal of both CrPc 144 and extra state security forces from the township and subsequent lifting of UNC’s highways ban today.
“But if the government decides to redeploy those extra forces under some pretext or the other, the situation may immediately become questionable,” Leiyolan of TFOs asserted.